Colon and Rectal Surgery

Colon and Rectal Surgery

With a diverse group of colon and rectal training backgrounds from leading institutions around the country, our surgeons bring state-of-the-art care to our patients.

Bowel Resection

This procedure involves the removal of a diseased part of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. This can be done as an "open" procedure, laparoscopically (very common today), through a single port or robotically. A laparoscopic bowel resection is performed with the aid of a small camera and instruments are placed through straw-like tubes passed into the abdomen.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

The removal of part of the colon may be needed when a portion of the colon, usually the sigmoid colon, suffers from infection from diverticular disease. Diverticula are outpouchings of the bowel which are present in more than half of American adults.

Colon and Rectal Cancer

Removal of colon or rectum may be needed to remove cancer and enable cure and relief of symptoms. The procedure often is done laparoscopically with the aid of a small camera and instruments are placed through straw-like tubes passed into the abdomen.

Proctocolectomy with Ileal Pouch-anal Anastomosis (IPAA)

A proctocolectomy is a procedure to remove all of the colon and rectum for patients with ulcerative colitis. The surgeon forms a pouch from the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and attaches it to the anus to maintain the digestive tract continuity. This ileal pouch becomes the digestive tract’s waste reservoir, which functions similar to the rectum. Laparoscopic surgical techniques can be applied to this operation.

Hemorrhoidectomy and Alternatives

Options to surgical removal of the hemorrhoids include rubber banding (an office procedure) when the hemorrhoids are smaller, and circular stapling of the hemorrhoids internally when the outside hemorrhoids are relatively normal. The procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) calls for staples to reposition the anal canal tissue and reduces blood flow to the hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink. It should be noted that surgery often can be avoided with dietary management.

Trans-Anal Endoscopic Microsurgery

Endoscopes - small, lighted instruments that contain cameras - are used to remove rectal lesions. This often can access small tumors through the anus thereby avoiding large and disfiguring abdominal operations.

Anal Sphincter Repair

This procedure can return function of the anus to restore continence (control) of the feces. Commonly, this operation is offered for leakage of stool related to earlier injury of the anus at childbirth.

Crohn's Disease

Medical and surgical management can be provided as indicated by the Crohn's Disease symptoms. St. Luke's colon and rectal surgeons work in conjunction with our gastroenterological colleagues to maximize medical management in cases where surgery can be avoided or delayed safely.